Keeping the Peace

“Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win. “
Jonathan Kozol: On Being a Teacher, 1981

Truthfully I do not know if I completely agree with the above quote, I bring it to you anyway because part of me thinks, ‘well this makes sense, I want to pick battles I can win’; but part of me wonders, ‘is this discouraging me from thinking big?’

I have spent so much time learning that so many of us really under estimate ourselves, that I would never want the above to be an excuse for playing it too safe or not fully utilizing our potential.

Or is it just about being strategic? As-in, push yourself and absolutely take on large goals that are challenging but don’t take on unrealistic goals. How do you know if a goal is challenging as opposed to unrealistic?

I can’t tell you if the plans you are making for yourself are realistic or not, only YOU can tell YOU that. Sure if you say you are going to sprout wings this year and fly, I might have a sense that this is not going to work out.

Only you have a sense for what you can accomplish, a stretch goal for some people is completely easy for another person. So set yourself goals that are not too easy, but that are obtainable, with full acknowledgement of your current schedule, lifestyle, your commitments, energy levels etc.

Can you go from just joining your company to becoming CEO of your company within a year? Some people can and do so don’t let anyone get in the way of your vision. Just be sure that you feel confident in your vision.

The key is not to underestimate yourself, then you won’t pick tiny battles or goals; you will stretch yourself in the right ways and pick the goals that will help you grow.

What do YOU think?

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